An escalating crisis is unfolding in Ihite Community within the Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State as disagreements arise over the selection of a traditional ruler.
A newly elected king, Mr. Timothy Ifurunwa, has been disowned by some members of the community, led by the traditional council, following his election last weekend, which was pushed by the President General, Mr. George Madu.
The community is now divided into factions, with numerous stakeholders rejecting the process that led to Ifurunwa’s selection as king.
The traditional council of the community has written a petition to Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, urging his intervention to prevent a crisis and to invalidate the process that resulted in Ifurunwa’s selection.
Signed by their lawyer, Barr N.I Onyeakpa, along with chiefs Ahamkonye, Daniel Ifemkpa, Anudu Ephraim, and Geoffrey Okeke, the petition accuses the community’s President General, George Madu, of disregarding the constitution in the selection process to favor his preferred candidate.
According to parts of the petition, “Ihite town in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State lost their Traditional Ruler Igwe, B.O. Ofu in 2020.”
“Under Ihite native law and custom, after two (2) years of transition following the passing of the Royal father, there should be a joint meeting of the Ihite traditional council and the town union to discuss the process of electing a new king or traditional ruler for the town.”
Onyeakpa has urged Soludo not to grant recognition to the newly elected monarch, Ifurunwa.
The community expressed surprise that Madu proceeded with the selection process despite the ongoing court proceedings to determine his authority to unilaterally select a monarch without the input of the traditional council.
“Our clients filed Suits in both customary court and Magistrate court challenging the purported dissolution of Ihite traditional council by the President General, and illegal process of selection, nomination and screening of a would-be traditional ruler of Ihite without reference to the traditional council of Ihite,” the statement reads.
Chief Geoffrey Okeke and Onowu Dominic Ahamkonye, two members of the traditional council, urged Soludo to nullify the process and cautioned against issuing a certificate of return to the new monarch.
In response, the President General of the community, Madu, defended the process, asserting that it was conducted properly.
He dismissed the discontent among a few individuals in the community and maintained that the selection process was transparent.